May 15, 2004 was the 6th month anniversary of Wayne's funeral. Family and friends gathered at the cemetary to 'CELEBRATE WAYNE' by sharing stories, memories, thoughts, prayers and releasing balloons with messages or memories written on each one. The image on the right is the invitation that was sent out to announce 'CELEBRATE WAYNE'. The rainbow stationary is for the rainbow seen for 100's of miles on the day of his funeral. (Story on the Wayne's Rainbows & Signs page)
'STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN'
Ever since Wayne's death, I have a difficult time listening to music because of the memories it evokes. Usually I listen to talk radio. About 10 minutes away from the cemetary for our CELEBRATE Wayne gathering, I switched over to a classical rock station and Led Zeppelin's STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN was playing. I felt as if this song was from Wayne at that moment. So I chose it as the background music for this page.
In Memory Of Wayne Cards
Each balloon had a laminated card attached to the ribbon explaining it was released in Wayne's memory. On the back of each card was an address for the balloons to be returned, if found. The cards were made from the same staionary as the invitaion shown above...blue/white clouds and rainbows We started with 16 balloons (One for every year of Wayne's life) and had enough people to release almost all 50 of the balloons. The extra balloons had card attached too. It was a beautiful, sunny day..with just enough wind to really blow the balloons across the sky. We even lost 6-7 due to wind gusts, before we started. It was an amazing , wonderful yet bittersweet sight to watch the balloons until they were out of sight. Wayne would have enjoyed it.
Friends from High School - left to right: Lindsay Strickland, April Moore, Randi Mccrary, Jenna Michelson, Kayla Lipford, Monique Hardison. Bottom: Miles Humphry and Ashley Mooring.
Writing Messages & Memories on Balloons
A Moment of Prayer Before Releasing Balloons
"1 - 2 - 3 - LIFT OFF"
Sponsors
UP, UP, AND AWAY
GOOD-BYE.....WE LOVE YOU WAYNE
BALLOONS RELEASED LATER THAT DAY AT HOME BY LAUREN (WAYNE'S LITTLE SISTER)
SIX MONTHS....
Poem read at 'CELEBRATE WAYNE'
Six Months
Exactly six months ago today
We gathered here in a very different way
Our hearts were broken and the pain was raw
As we questioned your final act of all
Our focus today is not just missing you
But celebrating your life in your years too few
Our thoughts on memories of love and fun
And remembering things with you we had done
We’ll speak our memories and maybe a prayer
As we come together with your life to share
Balloons with messages released to float up high
We’ll watch them disappear into the blue sky
Sending our messages in the sky above
Family and friends are here with love
Forever we are with you in our hearts
Even though physically we are apart
Our memories may take us to more pleasant places
Dislodging the pain of the heart-broken spaces
Today as we are here to remember you
Together with love and friendship as we do
Sixteen years in our lives and hearts do we cherish
May the good times not be forgotten or perish
The heartbreak is overwhelming at times
But if we look we can see the signs
From rainbows, to butterflies and shooting stars
Your love is being recognized from afar
One day we’ll be with you once again
But for now our we are with your family and friends
May 15, 2004 was the 6th month anniversary of Wayne's funeral. Family and friends gathered at the cemetary to 'CELEBRATE WAYNE' by sharing stories, memories, thoughts, prayers and releasing balloons with messages or memories written on each one. The image on the right is the invitation that was sent out to announce 'CELEBRATE WAYNE'. The rainbow stationary is for the rainbow seen for 100's of miles on the day of his funeral. (Story on the Wayne's Rainbows & Signs page) 
Each balloon had a laminated card attached to the ribbon explaining it was released in Wayne's memory. On the back of each card was an address for the balloons to be returned, if found. The cards were made from the same staionary as the invitaion shown above...blue/white clouds and rainbows We started with 16 balloons (One for every year of Wayne's life) and had enough people to release almost all 50 of the balloons. The extra balloons had card attached too. It was a beautiful, sunny day..with just enough wind to really blow the balloons across the sky. We even lost 6-7 due to wind gusts, before we started. It was an amazing , wonderful yet bittersweet sight to watch the balloons until they were out of sight. Wayne would have enjoyed it.
